Compression Article, Particularly A Compression Stocking With A Surface Pattern

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a compression article, particularly a compression stocking or compression tights, made of an elastic knitted fabric ( 1 ) with a base knitted fabric ( 2 ), which is made from a knitting thread (S) and inside of which compression-imparting compression threads (K) are deposited. In order to obtain a surface pattern, the manner in which the compression threads (K) are deposited alternates area by area.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a compression article, particularly acompression stocking according to the preamble of claim 1.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Compression articles, such as, for example, compression stockings,compression tights, or compression bandages, are manufactured normallyfrom an elastic knotted fabric with a base knitted fabric made from aknitting thread. Such compression articles, when worn on the body of theuser, apply a blood circulation promoting compression pressure on thetissue lying underneath it. Compression stockings and tights are used,for example, in case of venous diseases, particularly varicose veins, toimprove the venous blood flow to the heart and to eliminate venouscongestion.

In comparison to fashionable tights for women, compression stockingshave an unsatisfactory appearance, and as a result, women in particulardo not like to wear such compression stockings.

The invention is now based on the problem of making available moreaesthetically pleasing compression articles that can be worn gladly withfashionable clothes.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

With a compression article made of an elastic knitted fabric with a baseknitted fabric which is made from a knitting thread, and inside of whichcompression-imparting compression threads are deposited, this problem issolved according to the invention in that the compression articlepresents a more aesthetically pleasing surface pattern, which is alsogenerated by a comparatively varied deposition of the compressionthreads in the base knitted fabric.

In a preferred embodiment example of the compression article accordingto the invention, the compressing threads are deposited, for example, ina first area of the knitted fabric offset 1:1, and in the abutting arearibbed 1:1.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention is explained in greater detail below with reference to theaccompanying drawing and an embodiment example. In the drawing, thefigures show:

FIG. 1: a schematic representation of the mesh pattern of the knittedfabric from which the compression article according to the invention ismanufactured; and

FIG. 2: a schematic representation of the surface pattern of the knittedfabric of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 shows the mesh pattern of a knitted fabric, from which thecompression article according to the invention, particularly acompression stocking, compression tights or compression bandage, can bemanufactured. The elastic knitted fabric 1 is formed from a base knittedfabric 2 made from a knitting thread S, where the compression-impartingcompression threads K are deposited in the base knitted fabric. Theknitted fabric 1 shown in FIG. 1 presents a chessboard surface pattern,in which the different areas forming the chessboard pattern a, b, whichare arranged adjacently in the manner of a chessboard, produce in eachcase a different visual impression, so that a chessboard surface patternbecomes apparent. In the section from the knitted fabric 1, which isshown in FIG. 1, a total or four such areas a, b of the chessboardpattern are shown. In the areas a, which are arranged in the sectionshown on the top right and the bottom left in FIG. 1, the compressionthreads K are deposited with a 1:1 offset in the base knitted fabricwhich is in the form of a right/left knitted fabric. In the areas b,which abut the former area [the base knitted fabric], the compressionthreads K are deposited in the right/left base knitted fabric 2 in adifferent way, namely with 1:1 ribbing, as is apparent from FIG. 1. Thechange in the deposition type from 1:1 offset in area a to 1:1 ribbed inarea b takes place along the boundary lines G. These boundary lines Gcan—as shown in FIG. 1—extend either longitudinally, i.e., parallel, tothe rows of the base knitted fabric 2, or diagonally with respect to thelatter.

The compression threads K are elastofibers, particularly elastodiene,elasthane or elasthane threads wound with polyamide. The knittingthreads S are preferably an elasthane thread wound with polyamide. Theknitted fabric 1 consists, for example, of 50-70% polyamide and the restelasthane.

As a result of the difference in the deposition of the compressionthreads in the different areas, surface patterns of a great variety ofgeometries can be produced, for example, chessboard, stripe, argyle,bubble, or circle patterns. FIG. 2 is, for example, a schematicrepresentation of a chessboard pattern with the areas a and balternating in the form of a chessboard. In the latter, the blacksquares in each case show a compression thread K which is depositedabove the mesh head of a mesh of the base knitted fabric 2, and thewhite squares represent a compression thread K that is deposited at thebase of a mesh (see FIG. 1). In the areas a, because of the type ofdeposition (1:1 offset), a chessboard-shaped inner pattern isrepresented in the area a, which is graphically represented both in thehorizontal and also in the vertical direction as an alternatingdeposition of the compression threads K in the meshes of the baseknitted fabric 2. In the areas b abutting the tatter area, in contrast,a stripe-shaped internal pattern is generated, on the basis of which, inthese areas b, compression threads K having the same shape convergetoward each other between the different rows of the base knitted fabric2.

Using such a knitted fabric, compression articles can be manufacturedwith a great variety of aesthetically pleasing surface patterns. By thesimultaneous selection of threads with pleasing colors or colorcombinations, it is also possible in this way to produce visuallypleasing compression articles, which can also be worn with fashionableclothes.

1. Compression article, particularly compression stocking or compressiontights, made of an elastic fabric (1) with a base knitted fabric (2),which is made from a knitting thread (S), in which compression-impartingcompression threads (K) are deposited, characterized in that, to achievea surface pattern, the type of deposition of the compression threads (K)is changed in different areas.
 2. Compression article according to claim1, characterized in that the compression threads (K), in a first area(a) of the knitted fabric, are deposited with 1:1 offset, and in an area(b) abutting the former area, they are deposited with 1:1 ribbing. 3.Compression article according to claim 1, characterized in that the baseknitted fabric (2) is a right/left knitted fabric.
 4. Compressionarticle according to claim 1, characterized in that the base knittedfabric (2) is a round knitted fabric.
 5. Compression article accordingto claim 1, characterized in that the compression threads (K) areelastofibers, particularly elastodiene, elasthane, or elasthane threadswound with polyamide.
 6. Compression article according to claim 1,characterized in that the boundary lines (G) are located between theareas (a; b) with a different type of deposition of the compressionthreads (K) both along and also transverse to the mesh rows of the baseknitted fabric (2).
 7. Compression article according to claim 1,characterized in that the surface pattern is a chessboard, stripe,argyle, bubble, or circle pattern.